Payette National Forest, Idaho, Golden Hand #1 and #2 Lode Mining Claims Plan of Operations, 70614-70616 [E8-27622]
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70614
Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 226 / Friday, November 21, 2008 / Notices
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food and Nutrition Service
Agency Information Collection
Activities: Proposed Collection;
Comment Request: Status of Claims
Against Households (Form FNS–209)
Food and Nutrition Service,
USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
dwashington3 on PRODPC61 with NOTICES
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: In accordance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this
notice invites the general public and
other public agencies to comment on
proposed information collections. The
proposed collection is an extension of a
currently approved collection.
The purpose of the Status of Claims
Against Households is to provide a
standardized format for State agencies
submitting reports to the Food and
Nutrition Service. Sections 11, 13, and
16 of the Food and Nutrition Act of
2008 (the Act) are the basis for the
information collected on Form FNS–
209, Status of Claims Against
Households. Section 11 of the Act
requires that State agencies submit
reports and other information that are
necessary to determine compliance with
the Act and its implementing
regulations. Section 13 of the Act
requires State agencies to establish
claims and collect overpayments against
households. Section 16 of the Act
authorizes State agencies to retain a
portion of what is collected. The FNS–
209 is used as the mechanism for State
agencies to report the claim
establishment, collection and retention
amounts.
DATES: Written comments must be
submitted on or before January 20, 2009.
ADDRESSES: Comments are invited on:
(a) Whether the proposed collection of
information is necessary for the proper
performance of the functions of the
agency, including whether the
information will have practical utility;
(b) the accuracy of the agency’s estimate
of the burden of the proposed collection
of information, including the validity of
the methodology and assumptions used;
(c) ways to enhance the quality, utility,
and clarity of the information to be
collected; and (d) ways to minimize the
burden of the collection of information
on those who are to respond, including
through the use of appropriate,
automated, electronic, mechanical, or
other technological collection
techniques or other forms of information
technology.
Comments may be sent to Karen Peko,
Assistant to the Director, Program
Accountability and Administration
VerDate Aug<31>2005
14:24 Nov 20, 2008
Jkt 217001
Division, Food and Nutrition Service,
USDA, 3101 Park Center Drive, Room
818, Alexandria, Virginia 22302.
Comments may also be submitted via
fax to the attention of Karen Peko at
703–605–0795. Comments will also be
accepted through the Federal
eRulemaking Portal. Go to https://
www.regulations.gov and follow the
online instructions for submitting
comments electronically.
All written comments will be open for
public inspection at the office of the
Food and Nutrition Service during
regular business hours (8:30 a.m. to 5
p.m. Monday through Friday) at 3101
Park Center Drive, Room 818,
Alexandria, Virginia 22302.
All comments to this notice will be
summarized and included in the request
for Office of Management and Budget
approval. All comments will become a
matter of public record.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Requests for additional information or
copies of this information collection
should be directed to Karen Peko at
(703) 305–2481.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Status of Claims Against
Households.
OMB Number: 0584–0069.
Form Number: FNS–209.
Expiration Date: May 31, 2009.
Type of Request: Extension of a
currently approved collection with no
change in burden hours.
Abstract: The Supplemental Nutrition
Assistance Program (SNAP) regulations
at 7 CFR 273.18 require that State
agencies establish, collect and
efficiently manage SNAP claims. These
processes are required by Sections 11,
13 and 16 of the Food and Nutrition Act
of 2008, 7 U.S.C. 2020, 2022 and 2025.
Regulations at 7 CFR 273.18(m)(5)
require State agencies to submit at the
end of every quarter the completed
Form FNS–209, Status of Claims
Against Households. The information
required for the FNS–209 report is
obtained from a State accounting system
responsible for establishing claims,
sending demand letters, collecting
claims and managing other claim
activity. In general, State agencies must
report the following information on the
FNS–209: the current outstanding
aggregate claim balance; claims
established; collections; any balance
and collection adjustments; and the
amount to be retained for collecting
non-agency error claims. The burden
associated with establishing claims
(demand letters) and the Treasury Offset
Program, both of which are also used to
complete the FNS–209, are already
approved under OMB burden numbers
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Frm 00003
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
0584–0492 and 0584–0446 respectively.
The estimated annual burden is 742
hours. This is the same as the currently
approved burden. This estimate
includes the time it takes each State
agency to accumulate and tabulate the
data necessary to complete the report
four times per year.
Affected Public: State agencies.
Estimated Number of Respondents:
53.
Number of Responses per
Respondent: 4.
Total Responses: 212.
Estimated Time per Response: 3
hours.
Reporting Burden: 636.
Total Number of Recordkeepers: 53.
Estimated Annual hours per
Recordkeeper: 2.
Recordkeeping Burden: 106.
Estimated Total Annual Burden: 742.
Dated: November 12, 2008.
E. Enrique Gomez,
Acting Administrator, Food and Nutrition
Service.
[FR Doc. E8–27742 Filed 11–20–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–30–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Payette National Forest, Idaho, Golden
Hand #1 and #2 Lode Mining Claims
Plan of Operations
Forest Service, USDA.
Notice of intent to prepare an
environmental impact statement.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
SUMMARY: The USDA Forest Service will
prepare an environmental impact
statement (EIS) for the proposed Plan of
Operations (POO) for the Golden Hand
#1 and #2 lode mining claims in the
Frank Church—River of No Return (FC–
RONR) Wilderness on the Krassel
Ranger District, Payette National Forest.
The purpose of the POO is to allow for
collection of subsurface geological
information on the claims. The EIS will
disclose the environmental effects of the
POO submitted by American
Independence Mines and Minerals, Inc.
The Forest Service now invites
comments on the scope of the Analysis
and the issues to address.
DATES: Comments concerning the scope
of the analysis must be received by the
Payette National Forest within 30 days
following the publication of this notice
in the Federal Register. The Draft EIS
(DEIS) for the Golden Hand #1 and #2
Lode Mining Claims Plan of Operations
is expected to be available for public
review in April, 2009 and the Final EIS
(FEIS) and a Record of Decision are
expected to be completed in July, 2009.
E:\FR\FM\21NON1.SGM
21NON1
Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 226 / Friday, November 21, 2008 / Notices
Written comments on this
notice maybe mailed or hand-delivered
to Payette National Forest, Attn: Golden
Hand #1 and #2 Lode Mining Claims
Plan of Operations, 800 West Lakeside
Avenue, McCall, Idaho 83638.
Comments may also be submitted by
facsimile to (208) 634–0744 and by
electronic mail (e-mail) to commentsintermtn-payette@fs.fed.us. E-mail and
facsimile comments must include the
words ‘‘Golden Hand #1 and #2 Lode
Mining Claims Plan of Operations.’’
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jim
Egnew, Minerals and Geology Program
Manager, in writing at Payette National
Forest, 800 West Lakeside Avenue,
McCall, Idaho 83638, or by telephone at
(208) 634–0700.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
ADDRESSES:
Purpose and Need for Action
American Independence Mines and
Minerals, Inc. (AIMMCO) has proposed
a Plan of Operations (POO) to allow for
collection of subsurface geological
information on the Golden Hand #1 and
#2 mining claims. The mining claims
are located in the Frank Church—River
of No Return Wilderness (FC–RONRW),
approximately 50 miles northeast of
McCall, Idaho in section 26, T22N, R9E,
Boise Meridian. The claims encompass
approximately 20 acres each adjacent to
Coin Creek, a tributary of Beaver Creek,
which flows into Big Creek, a tributary
of the Salmon River.
dwashington3 on PRODPC61 with NOTICES
Proposed Action
The Forest Service proposes to
authorize AIMMCO to perform core
drilling at up to 13 locations and
excavate up to 2500 feet of trenches.
This proposed action would not include
mining extraction or transporting of
minerals for processing. Access to the
claims would be on Forest Service (FS)
roads to the FC–RONR Wilderness
boundary at Pueblo Summit, north of
the town of Edwardsburg. Proposed
access would then require vehicle
passage for approximately 3 miles past
the wilderness boundary on FS trail
#13. Within the boundary is a roadbed
that existed before creation of the
wilderness. The roadbed was converted
to use as a trail upon establishment of
the wilderness. Vehicle access would
require clearing slough, downed trees,
and other obstacles to maintain a safe
width for equipment transport. The
proposed operation would require
reconstructing approximately 2000 feet
of pre-existing roadbed on each claim.
These roads would access 13 drill
locations from which up to core holes
would be drilled. Approximately 2500
feet of trench would be excavated in the
VerDate Aug<31>2005
14:24 Nov 20, 2008
Jkt 217001
roadbed to allow collection of rock chip
samples. The Ella Mine, inaccessible
since the 1930s, would be opened and
retimbered to allow underground
mapping and sampling.
Equipment proposed for use includes
4-wheel drive pickup trucks, a 3 cubic
yard tracked or rubber-tired loader,
tracked excavator, buggy or track
mounted drill rig, D–7-size bulldozer,
an air compressor, chainsaws, gasolinepowered generator, jackhammer, and
hand tools. Waste rock would be placed
on an existing dump at the Ella portal
site. Fuel would be transported in
sealed containers and stored in a leakproof containment.
Responsible Official
The responsible official is Suzanne
Rainville, Forest Supervisor of the
Payette National Forest, 800 West
Lakeside Avenue, McCall, Idaho 83638.
Nature of Decision To Be Made
The nature of the Forest Service
decision to be made in response to the
POO submitted by American
Independence Mines and Minerals, Inc.
is: (1) Approve the project as proposed,
or (2) Notify the operator of changes or
additions to the POO necessary to
minimize or eliminate adverse
environmental impacts from mineral
activities on National Forest System
(NFS) lands, as required by Forest
Service regulations (36 CFR Part 228A).
The Payette National Forest Supervisor
has determined that preparation of the
EIS is required for approval of the POO
under Forest Service regulations
governing locatable mineral activities on
National Forest System Lands (36 CFR
part 228A) and CEQ regulations
implementing the National
Environmental Policy Act (40 CFR parts
1501–1508).
Scoping Process
Public participation will be important
at several points during the analysis,
particularly during scoping of issues
and review of the draft environmental
impact statement (DEIS). This notice of
intent initiates the scoping process,
which guides the development of the
EIS. The scoping process will identify
potential issues and issues to be
analyzed in detail, and will lead to the
development of alternatives to the
proposal. Comments received in
response to this notice, including the
names and addresses of those who
comment, will be part of the project
record and available for public review.
The second major opportunity for
public input is with the DEIS. The DEIS
will analyze a range of alternatives to
PO 00000
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
70615
the proposed action, including the noaction alternative.
Preliminary Issues
Preliminary issues identified by the
Forest Service interdisciplinary team
include use of mechanized equipment
in wilderness, protection of wilderness
character, effects to threatened and
endangered species, and effects to
aquatic species and water quality.
Comment Requested
This notice of intent initiates the
scoping process which guides the
development of the environmental
impact statement. The Forest Service
encourages the public to express issues,
concerns, and suggestions they may
have about this proposed action.
Comments should be directly related to
issues associated with the proposed
action, rather than general advocacy of
or opposition to the project, to best
assist us in the NEPA analysis.
Although comments are welcome at any
time during this NEPA analysis, they
will be most useful to us if they are
received within 30 days following the
publication of this notice.
Early Notice of Importance of Public
Participation in Subsequent
Environmental Review
A draft environmental impact
statement will be prepared for comment.
The comment period on the draft
environmental impact statement will be
45 days from the date the
Environmental Protection Agency
publishes the notice of availability in
the Federal Register. The Forest Service
believes, at this early stage, it is
important to give reviewers notice of
several court rulings related to public
participation in the environmental
review process. First, reviewers of draft
environmental impact statements must
structure their participation in the
environmental review of the proposal so
that it is meaningful and alerts an
agency to the reviewer’s position and
contentions. Vermont Yankee Nuclear
Power Corp. v. NRDC, 435 U.S. 519, 553
(1978). Also, environmental objections
that could be raised at the draft
environmental impact statement stage
but that are not raised until after
completion of the final environmental
impact statement may be waived or
dismissed by the courts. City of Angoon
v. Hodel, 803 F.2d 1016, 1022 (9th Cir.
1986) and Wisconsin Heritages, Inc. v.
Harris, 490 F. Supp. 1334, 1338 (RD.
Wis. 1980). Because of these court
rulings, it is very important that those
interested in this proposed action
participate by the close of the 45 day
comment period so that substantive
E:\FR\FM\21NON1.SGM
21NON1
70616
Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 226 / Friday, November 21, 2008 / Notices
comments and objections are made
available to the Forest Service at a time
when it can meaningfully consider them
and respond to them in the final
environmental impact statement.
To assist the Forest Service in
identifying and considering issues and
concerns on the proposed action,
comments on the draft environmental
impact statement should be as specific
as possible. It is also helpful if
comments refer to specific pages or
chapters of the draft statement.
Comments may also address the
adequacy of the draft environmental
impact statement or the merits of the
alternatives formulated and discussed in
the statement. Reviewers may wish to
refer to the Council on Environmental
Quality Regulations for implementing
the procedural provisions of the
National Environmental Policy Act at 40
CFR 1503.3 in addressing these points.
Comments received, including the
names and addresses of those who
comment, will be considered part of the
public record on this proposal and will
be available for public inspection.
(Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7 and 1508.22;
Forest Service Handbook 1909.15, Section
21)
Dated: October 30, 2008.
Suzanne C. Rainville,
Payette National Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. E8–27622 Filed 11–20–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–11–P
COMMITTEE FOR PURCHASE FROM
PEOPLE WHO ARE BLIND OR
SEVERELY DISABLED
Procurement List; Additions and
Deletions
Committee for Purchase From
People Who Are Blind or Severely
Disabled.
ACTION: Additions to and Deletions from
Procurement List.
dwashington3 on PRODPC61 with NOTICES
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: This action adds to the
Procurement List services to be
furnished by nonprofit agencies
employing persons who are blind or
have other severe disabilities, and
deletes from the Procurement List
products previously furnished by such
agencies.
DATES: Effective Date: 12/21/2008.
ADDRESSES: Committee for Purchase
From People Who Are Blind or Severely
Disabled, Jefferson Plaza 2, Suite 10800,
1421 Jefferson Davis Highway,
Arlington, Virginia, 22202–3259.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION (OR TO SUBMIT
COMMENTS) CONTACT: Patricia Briscoe,
Telephone: (703) 603–7740, Fax: (703)
VerDate Aug<31>2005
14:24 Nov 20, 2008
Jkt 217001
603–0655, or e-mail
CMTEFedReg@AbilityOne.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Additions
On 9/19/2008 and 10/03/2008, the
Committee for Purchase From People
Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled
published notice (73 FR 183, page 54366
and 73 FR 193, page 57590 respectively)
of proposed additions to the
Procurement List.
After consideration of the material
presented to it concerning capability of
qualified nonprofit agencies to provide
the services and impact of the additions
on the current or most recent
contractors, the Committee has
determined that the services listed
below are suitable for procurement by
the Federal Government under 41 U.S.C.
46–48c and 41 CFR 51–2.4.
Regulatory Flexibility Act Certification
I certify that the following action will
not have a significant impact on a
substantial number of small entities.
The major factors considered for this
certification were:
1. The action will not result in any
additional reporting, recordkeeping or
other compliance requirements for small
entities other than the small
organizations that will furnish the
services to the Government.
2. The action will result in
authorizing small entities to furnish the
services to the Government.
3. There are no known regulatory
alternatives which would accomplish
the objectives of the Javits-WagnerO’Day Act (41 U.S.C. 46–48c) in
connection with the services proposed
for addition to the Procurement List.
End of Certification
Accordingly, the following services
are added to the Procurement List:
Services
Service Type/Location: Materials
Coordinator/Supplies
TechnicianWarehouse located at Federal
Highway Administration Bldg.,
Warehouse, Vancouver, WA.
NPA: Portland Habilitation Center, Inc.,
Portland, OR.
Contracting Activity: Department of
Transportation.
Service Type/Location: IRS Document
Destruction, Carmel, INIRS Office,
Carmel, IN, 12900 North Meridian,
Carmel, IN.
Service Type/Location: IRS Document
Destruction, Greenwood, INIRS Office,
Greenwood, IN, 1111 South Park Drive,
Greenwood, IN.
NPA: Shares Inc., Shelbyville, IN.
Contracting Activity: Internal Revenue
Service, Dept of Treasury.
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Deletions
On 9/12/2008 and 9/19/2008, the
Committee for Purchase From People
Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled
published notice (73 FR 178, page 52948
and 73 FR 183, page 54366 respectively)
of proposed deletions to the
Procurement List.
After consideration of the relevant
matter presented, the Committee has
determined that the products listed
below are no longer suitable for
procurement by the Federal Government
under 41 U.S.C. 46–48c and 41 CFR 51–
2.4.
Regulatory Flexibility Act Certification
I certify that the following action will
not have a significant impact on a
substantial number of small entities.
The major factors considered for this
certification were:
1. The action will not result in
additional reporting, recordkeeping or
other compliance requirements for small
entities.
2. The action may result in
authorizing small entities to furnish the
products to the Government.
3. There are no known regulatory
alternatives which would accomplish
the objectives of the Javits-WagnerO’Day Act (41 U.S.C. 46–48c) in
connection with the products deleted
from the Procurement List.
End of Certification
Accordingly, the following products
are deleted from the Procurement List:
Products
Tape, Electronic Data
NSN: 7045–01–391–0947—Tape, Electronic
Data Processing.
NPA: North Central Sight Services, Inc.,
Williamsport, PA.
Contracting Activity: Defense Supply Center
Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA.
Tape, Electronic Data Processing
NSN: 7045–01–354–3517—Tape, Electronic
Data Processing.
NPA: North Central Sight Services, Inc.,
Williamsport, PA.
Contracting Activity: Defense Supply Center
Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA.
CRT and Keyboard Cleaner
NSN: 7045–01–247–6020—CRT and
Keyboard Cleaner.
NPA: North Central Sight Services, Inc.,
Williamsport, PA.
Contracting Activity: Defense Supply Center
Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA.
Data Cartridge, Travan
NSN: 7045–01–438–6297—Data Cartridge,
Travan.
NPA: North Central Sight Services, Inc.,
Williamsport, PA.
Contracting Activity: Defense Supply Center
E:\FR\FM\21NON1.SGM
21NON1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 226 (Friday, November 21, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70614-70616]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-27622]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Payette National Forest, Idaho, Golden Hand 1 and
2 Lode Mining Claims Plan of Operations
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The USDA Forest Service will prepare an environmental impact
statement (EIS) for the proposed Plan of Operations (POO) for the
Golden Hand 1 and 2 lode mining claims in the Frank
Church--River of No Return (FC-RONR) Wilderness on the Krassel Ranger
District, Payette National Forest. The purpose of the POO is to allow
for collection of subsurface geological information on the claims. The
EIS will disclose the environmental effects of the POO submitted by
American Independence Mines and Minerals, Inc. The Forest Service now
invites comments on the scope of the Analysis and the issues to
address.
DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received
by the Payette National Forest within 30 days following the publication
of this notice in the Federal Register. The Draft EIS (DEIS) for the
Golden Hand 1 and 2 Lode Mining Claims Plan of
Operations is expected to be available for public review in April, 2009
and the Final EIS (FEIS) and a Record of Decision are expected to be
completed in July, 2009.
[[Page 70615]]
ADDRESSES: Written comments on this notice maybe mailed or hand-
delivered to Payette National Forest, Attn: Golden Hand 1 and
2 Lode Mining Claims Plan of Operations, 800 West Lakeside
Avenue, McCall, Idaho 83638. Comments may also be submitted by
facsimile to (208) 634-0744 and by electronic mail (e-mail) to
comments-intermtn-payette@fs.fed.us. E-mail and facsimile comments must
include the words ``Golden Hand 1 and 2 Lode Mining
Claims Plan of Operations.''
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jim Egnew, Minerals and Geology
Program Manager, in writing at Payette National Forest, 800 West
Lakeside Avenue, McCall, Idaho 83638, or by telephone at (208) 634-
0700.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Purpose and Need for Action
American Independence Mines and Minerals, Inc. (AIMMCO) has
proposed a Plan of Operations (POO) to allow for collection of
subsurface geological information on the Golden Hand 1 and
2 mining claims. The mining claims are located in the Frank
Church--River of No Return Wilderness (FC-RONRW), approximately 50
miles northeast of McCall, Idaho in section 26, T22N, R9E, Boise
Meridian. The claims encompass approximately 20 acres each adjacent to
Coin Creek, a tributary of Beaver Creek, which flows into Big Creek, a
tributary of the Salmon River.
Proposed Action
The Forest Service proposes to authorize AIMMCO to perform core
drilling at up to 13 locations and excavate up to 2500 feet of
trenches. This proposed action would not include mining extraction or
transporting of minerals for processing. Access to the claims would be
on Forest Service (FS) roads to the FC-RONR Wilderness boundary at
Pueblo Summit, north of the town of Edwardsburg. Proposed access would
then require vehicle passage for approximately 3 miles past the
wilderness boundary on FS trail 13. Within the boundary is a
roadbed that existed before creation of the wilderness. The roadbed was
converted to use as a trail upon establishment of the wilderness.
Vehicle access would require clearing slough, downed trees, and other
obstacles to maintain a safe width for equipment transport. The
proposed operation would require reconstructing approximately 2000 feet
of pre-existing roadbed on each claim. These roads would access 13
drill locations from which up to core holes would be drilled.
Approximately 2500 feet of trench would be excavated in the roadbed to
allow collection of rock chip samples. The Ella Mine, inaccessible
since the 1930s, would be opened and retimbered to allow underground
mapping and sampling.
Equipment proposed for use includes 4-wheel drive pickup trucks, a
3 cubic yard tracked or rubber-tired loader, tracked excavator, buggy
or track mounted drill rig, D-7-size bulldozer, an air compressor,
chainsaws, gasoline-powered generator, jackhammer, and hand tools.
Waste rock would be placed on an existing dump at the Ella portal site.
Fuel would be transported in sealed containers and stored in a leak-
proof containment.
Responsible Official
The responsible official is Suzanne Rainville, Forest Supervisor of
the Payette National Forest, 800 West Lakeside Avenue, McCall, Idaho
83638.
Nature of Decision To Be Made
The nature of the Forest Service decision to be made in response to
the POO submitted by American Independence Mines and Minerals, Inc. is:
(1) Approve the project as proposed, or (2) Notify the operator of
changes or additions to the POO necessary to minimize or eliminate
adverse environmental impacts from mineral activities on National
Forest System (NFS) lands, as required by Forest Service regulations
(36 CFR Part 228A). The Payette National Forest Supervisor has
determined that preparation of the EIS is required for approval of the
POO under Forest Service regulations governing locatable mineral
activities on National Forest System Lands (36 CFR part 228A) and CEQ
regulations implementing the National Environmental Policy Act (40 CFR
parts 1501-1508).
Scoping Process
Public participation will be important at several points during the
analysis, particularly during scoping of issues and review of the draft
environmental impact statement (DEIS). This notice of intent initiates
the scoping process, which guides the development of the EIS. The
scoping process will identify potential issues and issues to be
analyzed in detail, and will lead to the development of alternatives to
the proposal. Comments received in response to this notice, including
the names and addresses of those who comment, will be part of the
project record and available for public review. The second major
opportunity for public input is with the DEIS. The DEIS will analyze a
range of alternatives to the proposed action, including the no-action
alternative.
Preliminary Issues
Preliminary issues identified by the Forest Service
interdisciplinary team include use of mechanized equipment in
wilderness, protection of wilderness character, effects to threatened
and endangered species, and effects to aquatic species and water
quality.
Comment Requested
This notice of intent initiates the scoping process which guides
the development of the environmental impact statement. The Forest
Service encourages the public to express issues, concerns, and
suggestions they may have about this proposed action. Comments should
be directly related to issues associated with the proposed action,
rather than general advocacy of or opposition to the project, to best
assist us in the NEPA analysis. Although comments are welcome at any
time during this NEPA analysis, they will be most useful to us if they
are received within 30 days following the publication of this notice.
Early Notice of Importance of Public Participation in Subsequent
Environmental Review
A draft environmental impact statement will be prepared for
comment. The comment period on the draft environmental impact statement
will be 45 days from the date the Environmental Protection Agency
publishes the notice of availability in the Federal Register. The
Forest Service believes, at this early stage, it is important to give
reviewers notice of several court rulings related to public
participation in the environmental review process. First, reviewers of
draft environmental impact statements must structure their
participation in the environmental review of the proposal so that it is
meaningful and alerts an agency to the reviewer's position and
contentions. Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corp. v. NRDC, 435 U.S. 519,
553 (1978). Also, environmental objections that could be raised at the
draft environmental impact statement stage but that are not raised
until after completion of the final environmental impact statement may
be waived or dismissed by the courts. City of Angoon v. Hodel, 803 F.2d
1016, 1022 (9th Cir. 1986) and Wisconsin Heritages, Inc. v. Harris, 490
F. Supp. 1334, 1338 (RD. Wis. 1980). Because of these court rulings, it
is very important that those interested in this proposed action
participate by the close of the 45 day comment period so that
substantive
[[Page 70616]]
comments and objections are made available to the Forest Service at a
time when it can meaningfully consider them and respond to them in the
final environmental impact statement.
To assist the Forest Service in identifying and considering issues
and concerns on the proposed action, comments on the draft
environmental impact statement should be as specific as possible. It is
also helpful if comments refer to specific pages or chapters of the
draft statement. Comments may also address the adequacy of the draft
environmental impact statement or the merits of the alternatives
formulated and discussed in the statement. Reviewers may wish to refer
to the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations for implementing
the procedural provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act at
40 CFR 1503.3 in addressing these points. Comments received, including
the names and addresses of those who comment, will be considered part
of the public record on this proposal and will be available for public
inspection.
(Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7 and 1508.22; Forest Service Handbook
1909.15, Section 21)
Dated: October 30, 2008.
Suzanne C. Rainville,
Payette National Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. E8-27622 Filed 11-20-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-P
